Entheogens are natural drugs with religious or shamanic use, including hallucinogens and mood-altering substances. They have been used for centuries to communicate with the divine, but their use is controversial. Entheogens can be dangerous and have adverse health effects. Some examples include kava, ayahuasca, peyote, mead, henbane, psilocybin, blue lotus, tobacco, fly agaric, hashish, and cannabis. Their use is restricted in many societies, but in regions where there is legitimate historical use, qualified individuals may be allowed to carry and use limited quantities.
An entheogen is a drug that has a history of religious or shamanic use. Most entheogens are hallucinogens, although some are mood-altering substances. Entheogens are all derived from plants and other natural sources, a key difference between entheogens and synthetically compounded drugs. The use of entheogens is controversial in some cultures, primarily out of concern that these drugs may be used for both recreational and religious use, making it difficult to determine when someone is using such drugs for religious or personal reasons.
The use of psychoactive substances to communicate with the divine appears to be ancient, judging by archaeological evidence. Many early human cultures used a variety of substances in an attempt to communicate with God or Gods, and this tradition has evolved as human cultures have become more complex. Entheogens were more typically taken by priests and shamans, or by groups of religious celebrants at specific festivals and events, and taboos often prohibited the use of such drugs in a non-religious context.
Some examples of entheogens from around the world include: kava, ayahuasca, peyote, mead, henbane, psilocybin, blue lotus, tobacco, fly agaric, hashish, and cannabis. As can be seen from this list, some entheogens began to be used in a secular context at some point in history. Tobacco, for example, was introduced to Europe by explorers who encountered Native American tribes using it, and mead was a common drink in medieval times. Other entheogens have become restricted substances in many societies.
Like other hallucinogens, an entheogen can profoundly alter brain chemistry. The safety of entheogen use largely depends on how the drug is grown, harvested, and handled, and on the individual levels of mind-altering compounds in the plant. People respond very differently to entheogen use because these drugs cannot be as accurately compounded and controlled as their synthetic counterparts, and adverse reactions have been known to occur. Prolonged use of entheogen can also have adverse health effects.
Many cultures list entheogens as controlled substances, reflecting the fact that they have no apparent medicinal value and can be quite dangerous. In regions where there is legitimate historical use of entheogens, people of cultures and religions that use these drugs may be allowed to carry and use limited quantities. Especially in regions where freedom of religion is valued, the use of entheogens by qualified individuals is protected by law, but the penalties for selling the drug to outsiders can be severe.
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